ROBERTSON'S RACKET.

NZ Truth, Issue 483, 19 September 1914, Page 2

ROBERTSON'S RACKET.

Flies for fire-fighter Fabian Stops Sundry Smacks. (From "Truth's" Chrlstchurch ; Rep.) Although the bis scrap In Europe haa. compelled the cult of the mighty stoush m Canterbury to take a back seat for the time being:, some of the flat country's pugs consider themselves back numbers it they remain obscured •for any timo from flstld effulgence. Probably this had 1 something to do with on impromptu mill engineered at Ashburton-on-Llmejulce the other day between Btlljlm Robertson and a fellow named Fabian. Robertson Ib, In Tiia own mind, an exponent of the art, although others with whom he has clashed so far seem to have had a. somewhat superior knowledge of things fistic. Fred Fabian, the fellow who dragged BUlJlm into the Asbburton Magistrate's Court lost week, and, besides charging him with nsßault, asked to have him bound over to keop himself strictly to himself, hangs out the agency shingle m connection with tin alleged efficient fire tighter. Tho hofty heavyweight Robertson, not to bo outdone by , THE DOUBLE-BARRELLED CHARGE lovollod at him, laid a counter chargo of assault against the fire lighter's spouse. Lawyer Buchanan swung the logal towel In BllljmVs corner, whilst "Costs" Acland "cornered" Fabian, who told tho Court that, as agent for a specified brand pf flro oxtingulsner. ho was giving a demonstration of what microscopic chances a blaso had when his preparation was rubbed on* it Robertson was prosont as part of the crowd, but vwas, to a certain oxtont, a fly m tho ointment, seeing that he had bought an extinguisher with which ho wasn't satlsflod. Robertson created a' counter demonstration. Fabian endeavored to leg it when Robertson commenced operations, but ho was un- • able to got away, so his wlfo came to tho roscuo arid gavo tho Ashburton heavy-weight a rap on the ear'olen. Robertson had asked for hlB money back, and intlmatod that ho would "TAKE IT. OUT OF FABIAN," Robbo had blown away by the time a John Hop blow on to tho Bcono. and he came back later and apologlsod. Fabian accoptod the apology rather than submit to another larruping. John Hop Moore rockonod ho saw tho 'mill, and advised Robertson to apologise for his precipltato words and actions. ..Robbo hadn't actually blffod Fabian, but only hold him. and tho John Hop wasn't suro whothor Mrs. Fabian's clout profacod Robertson's ! rude romark or whether tho ordor of tho negotiations was vlco versa. Anyhow, Robertson's character was ordinarily on tho sldo of social purity. . Jim Miller recounted what ho know of tho dust-up, and Audrey Fabian doclarod that sho had not clouted Robertson until ho callod her a name whloh suggested that she wasn't AS GOOD AS SHE OUGHT TO 88. Robertson had not apologlsod for using tho word. Tho defonco contended that tho assault was purely technical. Robertson's Btory shed a different? light on parts of the complainant* evidence. Ho reckoned Fabian sold him a flre flghtor and had promised to refund his "hoof If he wiwn't satisfied with the poworn of extinction. Ho never said ho would tako hi* moneys worth out of Fabian, fljjnd ho held his poaco remarkably trntfl Mrs. Fabian led with a couplo of ptralpht Jefta. Ho then attacked her verbally and received a couplo more clout*. Afterwards he apologised for what h« said to the Fabian duo, tho femalo half of which wouldn't accept hia regrets. Beyond PLACING HIS MITT on Fablan'a »hould«r to provont him from Mtrlklng tho trail, BlllJlm hadn't lifted a finger for forceful argument, Corroborative evidence was given by a quartette of persona who «aw Robertson*!* sldo of tho dlncuftßlon. The 9.M. decided not to enter a conviction against IloUorUon, although there wu no doubt that ho was m tho wrong and that Mm. Fabian played the correct agnto when she bowled into Robertson an noon as ho laid hands on her 40 per cent Tho counter chargo against Mm, Fabian trail flrod out, Robbo being or* dcrod to pay tho coata.